Lei

♀ Girl

Pronounced LAY /ˈleɪ/Medium

Meaning: In Hawaiian, Lei means 'garland; wreath; a string of flowers.' It is separately a romanized Chinese name (from words such as 'thunder' or 'bud'), so the route varies by family. Given both honestly.Low

In 30 seconds: A one-beat gem: Lei means 'garland; wreath' in Hawaiian (said 'LAY'). Short, bright, and meaningful.

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Origin LowHawaiian, Chinese

MeaningIn Hawaiian, Lei means 'garland; wreath; a string of flowers.' It is separately a romanized Chinese name (from words such as 'thunder' or 'bud'), so the route varies by family. Given both honestly.

U.S. rank (2024)#16590 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1960

Total births (all-time)≈ 647

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Lei is Hawaiian for 'garland; wreath; a string of flowers,' and also a romanized Chinese name from several possible words. The routes vary by family, which we note — a short, bright, meaningful pick, rare in the U.S. (said 'LAY').

It appears only rarely in the U.S. Rare, short, and meaning-rich.

Did you know? Lei is the Hawaiian word for a flower garland — the wreath of blossoms given in welcome — and is separately a romanized Chinese name, so the route varies by family (said 'LAY').

Overall data confidence 40%

References — Lei — Hawaiian 'garland'; also Chinese; routes vary

Variations

LeighLeiaLea

Nicknames

LeiLily

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lei mean?

Lei is Hawaiian for 'garland; wreath' and separately a romanized Chinese name; the routes vary by family, which we note.

How do you pronounce Lei?

It's said LAY /ˈleɪ/ — one syllable.

Is Lei a boy or girl name?

Lei is a girl's name.

How popular is Lei?

Lei is an extremely rare name in the U.S.